Pirates Tested by Top-Ranked College Prep Mariners in Tough Spring Showdown Matchup
MAPLE RIDGE - May 15, 2026
Against an ominous background the North Delta Pirates continued their experience at the Ridge Meadows College Prep Spring Showdown on Friday morning, taking on the Vancouver Island Mariners College Prep program — a team currently holding the top winning percentage in BC Minor College Prep baseball. After opening the tournament against another top-ranked College Prep opponent in Ridge Meadows, the Pirates once again embraced the opportunity to test themselves against one of the province’s strongest minor programs.
While the Mariners ultimately earned a 10–2 victory, the final score told only part of the story. Throughout the game, North Delta showed stretches of strong compete, disciplined play, and the ability to match up with a roster widely regarded as one of the strongest in minor baseball in the province. Against a polished Mariners lineup known for grinding through at-bats and capitalizing on opportunities, the Pirates continued to battle inning after inning and earned the respect of many veteran baseball observers in attendance.
Vancouver Island established momentum early, using patient at-bats and timely execution to build an advantage in the opening innings. Despite the early pressure, North Delta’s pitching staff continued to challenge hitters and limit opportunities where possible. In a purposely-short, two-inning stint starter Noah Grant delivered a competitive early start to the game, striking out five batters over two innings while generating consistent swing-and-miss against a disciplined Mariners offense. Relievers Scott Ormston and Tyler Conway handled innings three through five with the latter throwing just two pitches to retire the final Mariner out of the game.
The Pirates also avoided giving away free opportunities, refusing to issue any leadoff walks throughout the game — an indicator of the staff’s continued focus and discipline against a dangerous opponent. Even as Vancouver Island extended its lead in the later innings, North Delta continued to compete and look for opportunities to respond.
Defensively, the Pirates battled through a demanding game against an aggressive offensive team that consistently pressured the defense. North Delta showed resilience throughout, continuing to make plays and stay engaged. The experience of facing another high-level College Prep program offered another valuable learning opportunity for a Pirates roster continuing to grow in confidence and maturity.
There were a number of encouraging takeaways from the afternoon:
Returning from injury, Tevin Bentley’s hitting game showed signs of return with a series of strong battles at the plate and a satisfying double in the bottom of the second
Although the end-of-game score was lopsided, statistically the Pirates stacked up quite closely with the Mariners with nearly identical statistics in hits, walks, and strike-outs, and out-paced them in total bases. The Mariners were just better at capitalizing on their chances and the Pirates committed a couple too many errors.
Off the field several comments were overheard from tournament organizers and coaches / management of other club management related to the Pirates’ athleticism, competitiveness, and overall style of play, noting that North Delta showed many qualities associated with established College Prep programs.
Now sitting at 1–1 in pool play, the Pirates will quickly turn their focus toward Saturday’s matchup against North Shore College Prep — a game that will help determine final pool standings and quarter-final positioning. With valuable experience already gained against two of the strongest College Prep teams in British Columbia, North Delta enters the next stage of the tournament battle-tested and eager for another opportunity to compete. For a AAA organization from a smaller baseball jurisdiction, the tournament has already provided meaningful validation of the program’s continued development and direction.
For more information about the North Delta Pirates, visit www.northdeltapirates.ca. Follow the team on Instagram (@northdeltapirates), Facebook, and Twitter (@piratesnd) for exclusive content and updates throughout the season.
To become a team sponsor or for media inquiries or interview requests, please contact:
Matt Grant
Director with the North Delta Pirates
northdeltapirates@gmail.com
